how to install tic outdoor landscape lighting (guidelines) rock lighting series outdoor stone lights
tic ts "terrasic stone" rock lights
outdoor landscape lighting
Below you will find the basic installation guidelines for our TIC TS2, TS3, TS4, & TS8 Terrasic-Stone® series of outdoor rock lighting. While all installations and even landscape settings are a little different in requirements and layout, the following installation guidelines have served, with little modification for the successful installation of hundreds of thousands of TIC outdoor stone speaker products world wide.
Terrasic-Stone® simulated outdoor stone lighting, TS2, TS3, TS4, & TS8, are mounted either on the surface or preferably sinking them slightly by an inch or more, model dependent, into the garden landscape surface. Slightly sinking the unit stabilizes the enclosure. The design and finish color blend perfectly with any landscape lighting or garden lighting setting. They can be planter potted for indoor or patio applications.
The following instruction guidelines apply to all TIC Terrasic-Stone® landscape lighting generally. Where any special consideration should be made a Note: will be made. Also see our Terra-Forms® series of outdoor rock speakers.
outdoor rock lighting power requirements
Note: All Terrasic-Stone® outdoor rock lights also require connection to a low voltage (12v) lighting transformer, and as such need to run, via outdoor lighting cable to a mains (120v) power source to power the LV lighting transformer.
Note: Low Voltage outdoor lighting transformers are very reliable and inexpensive being available at almost any Hardware or DIY store of good repute. If you wish to run a series of low voltage outdoor lights and/ or speakers with lights, low voltage transformers are usually sold by wattage output. The general rule of thumb being to read the wattage of each bulb used, add them up and choose a transformer of somewhat higher output. Normally only 80% of the LV outdoor lighting transformers output is considered "usable". A 100 watt output LV transformer being used to power 4 x 20W lamps. This is to avoid a drop in supplied power or "orange" light from the outdoor lighting lamp. Please study the outdoor low voltage lighting transformer manufacturers installation instructions which take precedence over any guidelines stated here for outdoor lighting transformer connections.
how to install outdoor stone lighting
1. Carefully unpack the outdoor lighting components. Compare contents of boxes to the exploded parts diagram or parts list enclosed.
2. Read all the instructions before proceeding on with the connection of your exterior landscape lighting to insure trouble free performance of your outdoor rock lighting system.
tic outdoor rock lighting placement & optimization
Placement of your new exterior landscape lighting is almost always dependent upon the area, signage, architecture or architectural feature you wish to accent, enhance or highlight. Beautify existing foliage or just provide a more comfortable exterior nighttime garden setting. TIC exterior lights are also very useful for highlighting dangerous areas or safety signage, paths or walkways, instruction signs or even house and street numbers.
Lighting a particular architectural or garden feature is very impressive while connecting a series of our outdoor lights to a low cost motion sensor creates and supports an effective alarm or early warning system. This is considered a superior deterrent to those that operate only when the property is breached. There are so many general and specific uses for our Terrasic-Stone® exterior garden lighting that it would be difficult to list them all here. See our Outdoor Rock Lighting introduction page for more details...
3. Plan the location of the outdoor landscape lighting by making a simple sketch and estimating the length of outdoor lighting cable required, access to the low voltage 12v transformer to be used and the effective area of lighting beam spread. MR-16 outdoor lights used in our "mu" lamp models cast a more directed spot type beam, while the PAR-36 outdoor lights used in our "lu" lamps cast a broader beam useful for lighting larger areas.
4. Check your layout plan/ sketch for obstacles: Sidewalks, driveways, water, trees, bushes or garden fences, existing sprinkler paths or piping, architectural features and other obstacles that will interfere with, later obscuring or final laying of the wire and placement of the TIC outdoor rock lighting.
5. Before digging holes, drilling holes or mounting brackets for the TIC outdoor lighting or the wires, lay out the units and the wires per your sketch/ diagram. Recheck your drawing for any obstacles.
6. Review your point of entry into the house, garage or out building containing the power source to ensure the best point for entry. A crawl space, window or garage wall may provide the best entry point. If necessary, drill a hole only slightly larger than the wires used and use a good caulk or silicone to seal the hole around the site when the installation of your new TIC outdoor lighting is complete.
CAUTION!
Be careful not to drill in an area where house wiring is installed or piping and sprinklers may be present. Metal casements or window frames should also be avoided. This could cause structural damage or worse, a safety problem!
7. Placing your outdoor landscape lighting
- TIC Corporation always recommends you connect your new outdoor landscape lighting to your low voltage lighting transformer in close proximity and check their correct operation before you begin their exterior installation. Later, this test will help point out any difficulties that occur in cable runs or connectivity issues. Please first note item “8.” below.
- The Terrasic-Stone® outdoor lighting may be positioned wherever desirable or convenient, however small care should be taken not to cover or occlude the outdoor lamp lens with any obstacle. This lens can obtain relatively high temperatures and is air cooled in use. They should be checked semi-regularly so that surrounding growth has not come to rest on the lens. Repeat for all outdoor lights to be installed.
- Next, layout the lighting cord routes with string and small stakes to line up where to trench and keep this final length of string to measure and properly cut your outdoor lighting cable if taking from a roll.. Dig a 4 to 6 inch deep trench along this line to each outdoor light. This can be best done in soft soil by using a flat spade. Insert the spade in ground at a 45º angle and push sod and dirt up leaving a narrow slit to lay the outdoor lighting wire into. After spading all the trenches, lay the wire to insure adequate length for installation.
- Check the both ends of the wires for adequate length to hookup to the outdoor lighting transformer depending upon your particular installation configuration. Some extra length or "play" should be left in the outdoor lighting cable for adjustments.
- Recheck the connections and hook up the system to check for full functioning, following connection instructions for your low voltage lighting transformer system. Should everything operate properly, close up trenches and carefully fill around the outdoor lighting cabinetry. Place excess dirt around flower beds or trees as is appropriate, secure your cable run and tidy the final installation.
8. Connecting your TIC Outdoor Landscape Lighting to your Low Voltage Lighting Transformer
CAUTION! Refer to your 12v outdoor lighting transformer system manual for proper connection procedures. It is often suggested that connecting or hooking up one light at a time in series assures cable integrity and sufficient transformer wattage. (if you note a weak or orange light prior to all lights being connected your transformer is not powerful enough.)
CAUTION! Be very careful not to connect or power your outdoor lighting transformer until each light is connected in testing. Incorrect connection of your exterior lighting, shorting down the line or the wiring exposed to moisture will result in poor results and potentially damage your outdoor lighting system equipment. Be very careful that all connections are water tight.
terrasic-stone® "mu" MR-16 light & terrasic-stone® "lu" PAR-36 outdoor lighting lamps shown
please relax and enjoy your installation of another high quality tic outdoor rock lighting product!
winterizing the outdoor lighting system
TIC outdoor OmniSpeakers® and many TIC products including our outdoor lighting are used in Theme Parks, Leisure and Amusement Centers World Wide. A trick they recommended to us many years ago; in addition to the TIC outdoor speakers weatherproof properties, the system can be best protected from snow and ice, where appropriate, by securing a plastic bag over the unit until the spring thaw.
tic outdoor lighting preventative maintenance
Bi-annual or yearly maintenance of your Terrasic-Stone® outdoor lighting is always recommended. How often you actually do this is use dependent.
You should first remove any garden debris or particulate matter from around the base of the protruding outdoor lighting housing and especially light lens. Carefully check the connections integrity and cable.
It may be necessary to replace the outdoor light bulb of any particular unit intermittently; the lights used in the Terrasic-Stone® outdoor lighting series are standards in the lighting industry, MR-16 and PAR-36. These units are available at almost any lighting supply retailer as well as at most Hardware, DIY store chains.
If you must replace a bulb, when you are satisfied and the unit is clean, carefully replace the components in reverse order.
Your TIC Terrasic-Stone® outdoor lighting and TIC outdoor rock speakers in general actually require very little in the way of maintenance, however any preventative maintenance is always preferable to none.
We at TIC Corporation, like all our customers, wish you many years of enjoyment from your new outdoor lights and/ or speakers!
Contact
Please Contact us at TIC Corporation where we will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
TIC Corporation will in no way be held responsible for the improper, misuse or unsecured installation of its products. Any and all damage, injury or liability arising from the installation or use of TIC products is the sole responsibility of the original purchaser and final installers.
TIC cannot be held responsible for typographical errors contained within company literature or this website. Pricing and availability subject to change without notice, when placing an order the customer accepts and agrees to all TIC general terms and conditions. Note on pictures shown; all pictures shown for web purposes are low resolution. All TIC products shown are expected to improve or exceed their visual characteristics as shown.